“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

I'm working at home today, for a bit anyway and heard this quote on KPFK during their fund drive. The quote came from the new documentary "Harvest of Empire" that you can't get about the history of Latinos in the US.

I hadn't heard this quote before from JFK on the ocassion of the first anniversay of the Alliance for Progress March 13, 1962.

www.goodreads.com...

He is refering to US interference in Latin America.

It's becoming relevant here at home too.

a reply to: FyreByrd

Revolutions sound like such a good idea at the moment....sign me up for the next one wherever it is...I just want to overthrow some prick in office.

originally posted by: rockpaperhammock
a reply to: FyreByrd

Revolutions sound like such a good idea at the moment....sign me up for the next one wherever it is...I just want to overthrow some prick in office.

Are you willing to die for it? No sense in joining a revolution unless you are willing to go all the way.

a reply to: rockpaperhammock

Count me in too.

Do we get to pick the prick we are overthrowing or is it a lottery of sorts?

Also, is it political prick or just random pricks?

My prickfork is burning and at the ready!

Most people are too comfortable to rebel. They'll stand up for revolution on the computer but once it comes time to rally for their rights they just make the tv louder. Keep them uneducated, lazy, complacent and dependent on the system. The rebellion will be manufactured, they're already ramping people up to hating the police, the government, the army, etc. It's up to them when they want their own system to collapse, not us.

You could reword that top quote, "Change because we demand it or we will kill you."

Now that sort of sounds like a bunch of terrorists, doesn't it?

originally posted by: ketsuko
You could reword that top quote, "Change because we demand it or we will kill you."

Now that sort of sounds like a bunch of terrorists, doesn't it?

No - I wouldn't do that - wouldn't even think of it.

Thanx for being an example....

a reply to: buster2010

I've been in enough conflicts that death doesn't bother me at all...

However my above post is more for fun. Sometimes when I don't know how to quite respond to a thread I just try to have some fun with it.

The fact is that the American government has screwed its people over enough that it warrants grounds for a revolution. If I wrote out all my points why i would, id probably be arrested and be violating T and C. So instead I just moved out of the country and will watch it burn from afar.

The more you look at governments you see that a good majority are corrupt. So I have completely gone off grid. Self sustainable for the most part...i do need a few services or enjoy a few services. Maybe someday I will die for a good cause...I actually kind of miss the action...damn it lets overthrow something!


Also there is no peaceful revolution possible...and with that...I still have many close friends working in government, from high up on down...and of course id never want them to be a casualty. But it is not up to me...someday people will rise up ...a small group...maybe even a military unit...and it will catch on fire and spread. I think people want to do something...just not by themselves. It will take a few brave or stupid souls.

a reply to: FyreByrd

It has to happen sooner or later. It will not get fixed by waiting for the power mad nutballs to trickle it down to us. They need Americans their living rooms before they take us seriously.

a reply to: FyreByrd

PM me when you march on washington DC I have plenty of ammo to retake the capital.

a reply to: FyreByrd

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable"

People who make statements such as this are basically saying "if you're not wih us, you're against us." That is what history calls a tyrannical personality, which can lead to all kinds of nasty outcomes. Reform happens through the voting process, not revolution.

I think that this is a phrase that has a lot of contemporary meaning. A good example is when i was watching the Ferguson protests live and there were certain people who would throw water bottles or whatever at the police. I understand that there is anger and emotions flowing but one had to realize that doing something like that is in no way constructive to their cause, however minor that person deems their actions. That is the fine line between a peaceful protest and a violent demonstration that will not affect change.

originally posted by: kicked
I think that this is a phrase that has a lot of contemporary meaning. A good example is when i was watching the Ferguson protests live and there were certain people who would throw water bottles or whatever at the police. I understand that there is anger and emotions flowing but one had to realize that doing something like that is in no way constructive to their cause, however minor that person deems their actions. That is the fine line between a peaceful protest and a violent demonstration that will not affect change.

I can see your point of view and it does not in any way contradict the JFK quote.

In the ferguson case, peacful protest has met with little success or action from the authorities. Occupy - didn't meet with sucessful change from authorities either.

Hence those would be examples of 'making peaceful revolutions impossible'. Both could have changed things - even a little would have 'appeased' the 'masses' but those in authority chose to suppress peaceful protests sometimes violently.

When the many cannot influence meaningful change through peaceful means, voting, protesting and other actions there will come a point (and I believe that point was reached some time ago in the Middle East) that people will turn to violent protest.

In high school, during the Vietnam war, my friends and I talked about this a lot - most, myself, included being pacifists. The question was and is not only what you are willing to die for - but what you are willing to kill for.

I never could think, other then protecting my child, of anything I would kill for and then I attended a seminar on the concept of "Just War" and going to war to 'lessen suffering' (an area of great buddist discussion) that I began to think less in absolutes.

I don't know the right answer for me - I've never seen violence produce good but I haven't see everything either. I think that using violence to force our will, either individually or collectively, on others is distructive and breeds more violence, fear and suffering but I do know that people who are suffering unable to care for themselves or their families and feel they have nothing to lose (think Middle East again) will do anything to hurt those they perceive as hurting them.

I thought it was a profound warning on governing (in our familes and our towns and our countries) and wanted to share it.

Buster has the right idea, or else what's the point, really….
take care, or not for what this made us after.
tetra

Living by the sword is FINE with me. but a civil war is quite hideous.